Our stay in the new600 Loop

[ynottony99]

I have been one of those who has not been thrilled with the many changes taking place at our beloved Fort Wilderness. Not the least of these has been the upgrade/ruination (depending on point of view) of many of our favorite sites to 'Premium'. It has been my determination to book our trips in Full or Preferred, and avoid these defiled sites. After this last trip, my resistance has weakened.

We had decided that we were not going to allow the boys to bring video games on this trip. (Many obvious reasons). That being so, we wanted to have cable.
Only Premium sites were available by the time we booked. So, I decided to request loop 600, hoping to get a site on the pond.

When we arrived our CM at check in was very accommodating. When I inquired early in the process about our site assignment he assured me he would work with us to make us happy. We had been assigned to site 622. I asked if any were available by the water. He got out the book that shows each site in each loop. He looked at it for a minute, then he handed it to me and told me to look at it and tell him what I wanted. He then looked at the computer to see what would be open during our 3 night stay. As I read off sites, none right on the water were available. However 601 was. 70 some feet long and 18 feet wide, and only steps away to the Meadows and morning coffee!!!

This site was awesome!!!! Couldn't be easier to back in. Lots of room. Although it is only a few feet away from all the activity of the Meadows, it still offered a since of privacy.

I have more photos and observations for later.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Should I be changing my request from the 1700 loop?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Great photos, as usual, Tony!

I still don't like the 600 loop expansion.

But, it would be cool to camp with the Meadow Trading Post in your backyard.

TCD

p.s. I know someone who would kill to have a clear copy of that map that the castmember showed you at check-in

 

[mariettadisney71]

ynottony99,
These pics are great!! Did you have any area off of the pad that was flat for playing games like ladder ball or bean bag toss, or were you confined to the pad? Any pets?
Thanks

 

[dwluvsdh]

During Spring Break we were the first ones to stay in site 601. I loved the site and my husband had no problem walking a few feet to get us coffee. There is grassy area between you and 602 and between you and the Meadows. My husband played football there with the boys. I would stay at that site again in a heartbeat!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

So, Tony, I am wondering about a couple of things.

First, here is a photo that I took of sites 601 and 602 on 3/31/09:

It looks like there is a lot more plant life in your photos. Wouldn't you say that they have added more new bushes since opening the loop?

Also, I see that you had one of those spring loaded cap thingies on your site. You know, one of these:

So, what I want to know is what happened when you unscrewed the top?

You DID unscrew the top, didn't you?

Did you notice any drip irrigation lines hooked up to all those extra do-hickeys on the water connection pole?


TCD

 

[dwluvsdh]

So, Tony, I am wondering about a couple of things.

First, here is a photo that I took of sites 601 and 602 on 3/31/09:

It looks like there is a lot more plant life in your photos. Wouldn't you say that they have added more new bushes since opening the loop?

That's my TT in 601 and our friend's pop up in 602. I noticed that also in the pics. They added a LOT more trees and shrubs. My kids were riding bikes where all those bushes are now.

Joanne

 

[ynottony99]

During Spring Break we were the first ones to stay in site 601. I loved the site and my husband had no problem walking a few feet to get us coffee. There is grassy area between you and 602 and between you and the Meadows. My husband played football there with the boys. I would stay at that site again in a heartbeat!

I have had a number of sites that I would gladly stay in again, but this is right at the top. At least for now. I still want to try one right on the water.

ynottony99,
These pics are great!! Did you have any area off of the pad that was flat for playing games like ladder ball or bean bag toss, or were you confined to the pad? Any pets?
Thanks

As long as you don't go crazy and take over the whole front of the Meadows I think you could use the space right behind the site to play on. Some even seem to get away with setting up tents there.

So, Tony, I am wondering about a couple of things.

First, here is a photo that I took of sites 601 and 602 on 3/31/09:

It looks like there is a lot more plant life in your photos. Wouldn't you say that they have added more new bushes since opening the loop?

Also, I see that you had one of those spring loaded cap thingies on your site. You know, one of these:

So, what I want to know is what happened when you unscrewed the top?

You DID unscrew the top, didn't you?

Did you notice any drip irrigation lines hooked up to all those extra do-hickeys on the water connection pole?


TCD

It does look like they have done some planting doesn't it? I think when these trees and shrubs mature, privacy won't be much of a concern.

Clearly, I could NOT unscrew the top......can't you read!!!!!!!
I fell short on my TCD deputy duties and did not take note of how the drip irrigation is connected. A CM visited 602 to turn it off once while we were sitting outside. The drip irrigation was running frequently, and I am sure has saved all the new plants what with all the dry weather we have been having. I know the rain this week has dampened some vacations, but it was sorely needed.

 

[ynottony99]

I am not sure if any others have an interest in getting into one of the new sites right on the water, but I took photos of those sites during our stay. The first photo is site 614, which is next to the bridge over to the Campfire.

I think my favorites are 614 or 612. I just like the view out across the water from that area. I didn't photograph the sites on the other side of the road. All of them offer no shade, which in the heat of summer can put quite a load on the A/C just to keep up.

 

[ynottony99]

One more photo from 600 that must be included of TCD's favorite grille.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

One more photo from 600 that must be included of TCD's favorite grille.

You could set up a hot dog and burger stand there and undercut Disney, that way you could subsidize a longer trip.

 

[Shan-man]

Hey Tony, do you mind if I link to these site pics in the Google Earth Site Maps? I think they are great illustrations of what 600 has to offer. Great pics!

 

[ntsammy5]

They did a good job on these .... look for the rate hikes to come.

 

[dfchelbay]

Great photos, as usual, Tony!

I still don't like the 600 loop expansion.

But, it would be cool to camp with the Meadow Trading Post in your backyard.

TCD

p.s. I know someone who would kill to have a clear copy of that map that the castmember showed you at check-in

Would that person bear a striking resemblance to Santa??????

 

[ynottony99]

Hey Tony, do you mind if I link to these site pics in the Google Earth Site Maps? I think they are great illustrations of what 600 has to offer. Great pics!

Yes please do. Thanks!!

 

[GoSox50]

We stayed at site 616 which is next to the path that leads over the bridge to the Meadows. We loved the site. We were there from 5/18 - 5/28 and it was great when we were at the pool and it started to rain and all we had to do was run over the bridge and we were home. It also helped to have a path across the street to walk to the bus stop also. We did have a cart and there was plenty of room to park the cart under our awning to keep it dry after all the rain we got. We have stayed in the 1600 and the 1900 loops and we hardly had any room to extend the awning plus had to step off the pad to get around the awning support. This site had plenty of room. Only negative about the site is that it did not have an electric plug to charge the golf cart. Luckily, we could plug the cart into the outlet on our motorhome. We would stay in this loop again.

 

[WeCampDisney]

Thanks for sharing your GREAT pics Tony! We stayed in the 600 loop on our first trip back in may 2000. It is a very good loop for those who walk.

 

[tellnotails]

The 600 expansion is a waste of beautiful green space that will never be re covered IMHO

 

[ynottony99]

The 600 expansion is a waste of beautiful green space that will never be re covered IMHO

I agree. All the grass and trees that were there by the pond were awesome. I loved that stretch of sidewalk. I hope that once the landscaping matures, this expansion doesn't continue to stick out like a sore thumb. But since it is here, I figure why not enjoy what it has to offer??